Adjacent Words

Would definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

WOULD, WUD, pret. of will, G., L.
Would is used as an auxiliary verb in conditional forms of speech. I would go, if I could. This form of expression denotes will or resolution, under a condition or supposition. You would go, He would go, denote simply an event, under a condition or supposition. The condition implied in would is not always expressed. By pleasure and pain, I would be understood to mean what delights or molests us--; that is, if it should be asked what I mean by pleasure and pain, I would thus explain what I wish to have understood. In this form of expression, which is very common, there seems to be an implied allusion to an inquiry, or to the supposition of something not expressed.
Would has the sense of wish or pray, particularly in the phrases, would to God, would God we had died in Egypt, I would that ye knew what conflict I have; that is, I could wish such a thing, if the wish could avail. Here also there is an implied condition.
Would is used also for wish to do, or to have. What wouldst thou? What would he?

Merriam Webster's

verb, past of will Etymology: Middle English wolde, from Old English; akin to Old High German wolta wished, desired Date: before 12th century 1. a. archaic wished, desired b. archaic wish for ; want c. (1) strongly desire ; wish <I would I were young again> — often used without a subject and with that in a past or conditional construction <would that I had heeded your advice> (2) — used in auxiliary function with rather or sooner to express preference <he would sooner die than face them> 2. a. — used in auxiliary function to express wish, desire, or intent <those who would forbid gambling> b. — used in auxiliary function to express willingness or preference <as ye would that men should do to you — Luke
6:31 (Authorized Version)> c. — used in auxiliary function to express plan or intention <said we would come> 3. — used in auxiliary function to express custom or habitual action <we would meet often for lunch> 4. — used in auxiliary function to express consent or choice <would put it off if he could> 5. a. — used in auxiliary function in the conclusion of a conditional sentence to express a contingency or possibility <if he were coming, he would be here now> b. — used in auxiliary function in a noun clause (as one completing a statement of desire, request, or advice) <we wish that he would go> 6. — used in auxiliary function to express probability or presumption in past or present time <would have won if I had not tripped> 7. could <the barrel would hold 20 gallons> 8. — used in auxiliary function to express a request with which voluntary compliance is expected <would you please help us> 9. — used in auxiliary function to express doubt or uncertainty <the explanation…would seem satisfactory> 10. should <knew I would enjoy the trip> <would be glad to know the answer>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.aux. (3rd sing. would) past of WILL(1), used esp.: 1 (in the 2nd and 3rd persons, and often in the 1st: see SHOULD). a in reported speech (he said he would be home by evening). b to express the conditional mood (they would have been killed if they had gone). 2 to express habitual action (would wait for her every evening). 3 to express a question or polite request (would they like it?; would you come in, please?). 4 to express probability (I guess she would be over fifty by now). 5 (foll. by that + clause) literary to express a wish (would that you were here). 6 to express consent (they would not help). Phrases and idioms: would-be often derog. desiring or aspiring to be (a would-be politician). Etymology: OE wolde, past of wyllan: see WILL(1)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Weld Weld, n. [OE. welde; akin to Scot. wald, Prov. G. waude, G. wau, Dan. & Sw. vau, D. wouw.] 1. (Bot.) An herb (Reseda luteola) related to mignonette, growing in Europe, and to some extent in America; dyer's broom; dyer's rocket; dyer's weed; wild woad. It is used by dyers to give a yellow color. [Written also woald, wold, and would.] 2. Coloring matter or dye extracted from this plant.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Will Will, v. t. & auxiliary. [imp. Would. Indic. present, I will (Obs. I wol), thou wilt, he will (Obs. he wol); we, ye, they will.] [OE. willen, imp. wolde; akin to OS. willan, OFries. willa, D. willen, G. wollen, OHG. wollan, wellan, Icel. & Sw. vilja, Dan. ville, Goth. wiljan, OSlav. voliti, L. velle to wish, volo I wish; cf. Skr. v[.r] to choose, to prefer. Cf. Voluntary, Welcome, Well, adv.] 1. To wish; to desire; to incline to have. A wife as of herself no thing ne sholde [should] Wille in effect, but as her husband wolde [would]. --Chaucer. Caleb said unto her, What will thou ? --Judg. i. 14. They would none of my counsel. --Prov. i. 30. 2. As an auxiliary, will is used to denote futurity dependent on the verb. Thus, in first person, ``I will'' denotes willingness, consent, promise; and when ``will'' is emphasized, it denotes determination or fixed purpose; as, I will go if you wish; I will go at all hazards. In the second and third persons, the idea of distinct volition, wish, or purpose is evanescent, and simple certainty is appropriately expressed; as, ``You will go,'' or ``He will go,'' describes a future event as a fact only. To emphasize will denotes (according to the tone or context) certain futurity or fixed determination. Note: Will, auxiliary, may be used elliptically for will go. ``I'll to her lodgings.'' --Marlowe. Note: As in shall (which see), the second and third persons may be virtually converted into the first, either by question or indirect statement, so as to receive the meaning which belongs to will in that person; thus, ``Will you go?'' (answer, ``I will go'') asks assent, requests, etc.; while ``Will he go?'' simply inquires concerning futurity; thus, also,``He says or thinks he will go,'' ``You say or think you will go,'' both signify willingness or consent. Note: Would, as the preterit of will, is chiefly employed in conditional, subjunctive, or optative senses; as, he would go if he could; he could go if he would; he said that he would go; I would fain go, but can not; I would that I were young again; and other like phrases. In the last use, the first personal pronoun is often omitted; as, would that he were here; would to Heaven that it were so; and, omitting the to in such an adjuration. ``Would God I had died for thee.'' Would is used for both present and future time, in conditional propositions, and would have for past time; as, he would go now if he were ready; if it should rain, he would not go; he would have gone, had he been able. Would not, as also will not, signifies refusal. ``He was angry, and would not go in.'' --Luke xv. 28. Would is never a past participle. Note: In Ireland, Scotland, and the United States, especially in the southern and western portions of the United States, shall and will, should and would, are often misused, as in the following examples: I am able to devote as much time and attention to other subjects as I will [shall] be under the necessity of doing next winter. --Chalmers. A countryman, telling us what he had seen, remarked that if the conflagration went on, as it was doing, we would [should] have, as our next season's employment, the Old Town of Edinburgh to rebuild. --H. Miller. I feel assured that I will [shall] not have the misfortune to find conflicting views held by one so enlightened as your excellency. --J. Y. Mason.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Would Would, imp. of Will. [OE. & AS. wolde. See Will, v. t.] Commonly used as an auxiliary verb, either in the past tense or in the conditional or optative present. See 2d & 3d Will. Note: Would was formerly used also as the past participle of Will. Right as our Lord hath would. --Chaucer.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Would Would, n. See 2d Weld.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. Note: 'Would' is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. In spoken English, 'would' is often abbreviated to ''d'. 1. You use would when you are saying what someone believed, hoped, or expected to happen or be the case. No one believed he would actually kill himself... Would he always be like this?... He expressed the hope that on Monday elementary schools would be reopened... A report yesterday that said British unemployment would continue to rise... MODAL 2. You use would when saying what someone intended to do. The statement added that although there were a number of differing views, these would be discussed by both sides... George decided it was such a rare car that he would only use it for a few shows... MODAL 3. You use would when you are referring to the result or effect of a possible situation. Ordinarily it would be fun to be taken to fabulous restaurants... It would be wrong to suggest that police officers were not annoyed by acts of indecency... It would cost very much more for the four of us to go from Italy. MODAL 4. You use would, or would have with a past participle, to indicate that you are assuming or guessing that something is true, because you have good reasons for thinking it. You wouldn't know him... His fans would already be familiar with Caroline... It was half seven; her mother would be annoyed because he was so late. MODAL 5. You use would in the main clause of some 'if' and 'unless' sentences to indicate something you consider to be fairly unlikely to happen. If only I could get some sleep, I would be able to cope... A policeman would not live one year if he obeyed these regulations... MODAL 6. You use would to say that someone was willing to do something. You use would not to indicate that they refused to do something. They said they would give the police their full cooperation... She indicated that she would help her husband... He wouldn't say where he had picked up the information. MODAL 7. You use would not to indicate that something did not happen, often in spite of a lot of effort. He kicked, pushed, and hurled his shoulder at the door. It wouldn't open... He kept trying to start the car and the battery got flatter and flatter, until it wouldn't turn the engine at all... MODAL 8. You use would, especially with 'like', 'love', and 'wish', when saying that someone wants to do or have a particular thing or wants a particular thing to happen. Right now, your mom would like a cup of coffee... Ideally, she would love to become pregnant again... He wished it would end... would rather: see rather MODAL 9. You use would with 'if' clauses in questions when you are asking for permission to do something. Do you think it would be all right if I smoked?... Mr. Cutler, would you mind if I asked a question? MODAL 10. You use would, usually in questions with 'like', when you are making a polite offer or invitation. Would you like a drink?... Perhaps you would like to pay a visit to London. MODAL [politeness] 11. You use would, usually in questions, when you are politely asking someone to do something. Would you come in here a moment, please?... Oh dear, there's the doorbell. See who it is, would you, darling. = could MODAL [politeness] 12. You say that someone would do something when it is typical of them and you are critical of it. You emphasize the word would when you use it in this way. Well, you would say that: you're a man... MODAL [disapproval] 13. You use would, or sometimes would have with a past participle, when you are expressing your opinion about something or seeing if people agree with you, especially when you are uncertain about what you are saying. I think you'd agree he's a very respected columnist... I would have thought it a proper job for the Army to fight rebellion... I would imagine she's quite lonely living on her own. MODAL [vagueness] 14. You use I would when you are giving someone advice in an informal way. If I were you I would simply ring your friend's bell and ask for your bike back... There could be more unrest, but I wouldn't exaggerate the problems. MODAL 15. You use you would in negative sentences with verbs such as 'guess' and 'know' when you want to say that something is not obvious, especially something surprising. Chris is so full of artistic temperament you'd never think she was the daughter of a banker... MODAL 16. You use would to talk about something which happened regularly in the past but which no longer happens. Sunday mornings my mother would bake. I'd stand by the fridge and help... = used to MODAL 17. You use would have with a past participle when you are saying what was likely to have happened by a particular time. Within ten weeks of the introduction, 34 million people would have been reached by our television commercials. MODAL 18. You use would have with a past participle when you are referring to the result or effect of a possible event in the past. My daughter would have been 17 this week if she had lived... If I had known how he felt, I would never have let him adopt those children... MODAL 19. If you say that someone would have liked or preferred something, you mean that they wanted to do it or have it but were unable to. I would have liked a life in politics... She would have liked to ask questions, but he had moved on to another topic... MODAL